national stage

Burlington Free Press

Williston Boy's Snack to be on Rachel Ray's Show
By Lynn Monty - October 23, 2009

When Alec Distler, 14, of Williston, created “Alec’s Spicy Pretzels” for a school project, he never imagined the snack be featured on a nationally televised program a year later. Monday his popular pretzels will be “Snack of the Day” on the Rachael Ray Show. It airs on WCAX Channel 3 in the Burlington area from 9 to 10 a.m.

“Supposedly Rachael loved them and took several bags home to her husband who loves spicy foods,” Distler’s mother, Lynn, said. “She mentioned Alec’s story during the taping, but her assistant didn’t know how much of it will make it on the show.”

The Distlers sent the show a letter in May. Soon after they were asked to ship 150 bags of the pretzels to the show.

The hard sourdough pretzels baked with herbs and spices, plus a kick of cayenne pepper, are sold in 20 area locations and sell out every week, Lynn Distler said. The family puts in about 25 hours a week preparing 2,000 bags.

The Distler family is expecting Internet orders to skyrocket. Right now they receive about two orders a week. Their Web site, www.alecsspicypretzels.com, will be featured on the Rachael Ray Web site, www.rachaelray.com, after the show airs Monday.

Alec’s goal is to sell his pretzels at Fenway Park in Boston and though there has been no word from the venue so far, he is working to get his product sold in all 50 states. “So far he has hit 15 states,” his mom said. “Being on the show will certainly help him reach that goal.”

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